In most police squads, a lieutenant ranks above a sergeant and below a captain. A police lieutenant's salary depends on a number of factors, including experience and job location. Not all jurisdictions pay the same nor have the same requirements for the position. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics offers data on median salaries under a category for first-line supervisors of police and detectives. In addition, many jurisdictions offer information on the officers that serve their area.

Duties

First-line supervisors of police include lieutenants as well as detective lieutenants. They supervise and manage patrol officers, detectives and other personnel. Police officers serving with a rank of lieutenant might also be in command of certain districts.

BLS Data

The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that about 102,040 persons served as first-line supervisors of police and detectives in 2010. The BLS lists the median annual salary of these first-line supervisors as $81,250 as of May 2010. The highest-paid 10 percent earned annual salaries of more than $126,000. The lowest-pad 10 earned less than $47,000 annually.

Local Salaries

A police lieutenant's location is a factor in how much money he makes. For example, a New York City police lieutenant can earn a base salary of $112,574 a year, according to NYPD figures from November 2010. This base pay does not include overtime, shift differentials, holiday pay and uniform allowances. In contrast, in June 2012 the town of Forrest City, Ark. advertised a position for a police lieutenant that quoted a salary of $37,942 to $42,142 annually.

State Salaries

As of May 2011, California ranked first among the states in salaries for first-line supervisors, paying an average of $124,500 per year. The District of Columbia ranked second at an average of $118,580. It was followed by New Jersey, at $114,690; Nevada, at $97,000; and Illinois, at $96,300.